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Thursday, September 3, 2015

State Releases Performance Data

The North Carolina State Board of Education recently released preliminary information regarding student performance based on a variety of measures. According to most indicators, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) outcomes from 2014-15 mirrored those from 2013-14.

SCHOOL PERFORMANCE GRADES

North Carolina’s second annual school performance grades were presented to the State Board of Education today showing that 72.2 percent of traditional public schools earned grades of C or better, and 70.4 percent of public charter schools received grades of C or better.

For the second consecutive year, 100 percent of CHCCS schools received a grade of C or better.

“While the letter grades have been a controversial measurement since their inception, we are pleased that our schools are receiving good marks,” said CHCCS Superintendent Tom Forcella. “However, we will continue working to move all of our schools into the A and A+ categories.”

As required by state legislation, the School Performance Grades are based 80 percent on the school's achievement score and 20 percent on students' academic growth. There has been considerable public conversation regarding a change to the scoring system that would give greater emphasis on growth, which many feel would be a better indicator of a school’s efficacy.

This year, for the first time, some schools received a letter grade of A+ng. This new standard reflects schools that earned a school performance grade of A and that also do not have any student achievement gaps that were larger than the largest average gap for the state overall. Glenwood Elementary, Carrboro High and East Chapel Hill High each earned the A+ng grade.

GRADUATION RATES

For the tenth consecutive year, North Carolina’s four-year cohort high school graduation rate is up and is now at 85.4 percent. The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools four-year cohort graduation rate for 2014-15 was 90.7 percent, nearly unchanged from the 90.8 percent the previous year.

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools led the State on the five-year cohort graduation rate. By the end of five years, 94.6 percent of the cohort graduated in 2014-15.

“North Carolinians can be pleased that our high school graduation continues to increase and reached a new all-time high of more than 85 percent in 2015,” said State Superintendent June Atkinson. “Our graduation rate is a bright spot, and I also am pleased that mathematics performance improved across elementary and middle schools.”

GROWTH

The state’s accountability initiative monitors two primary areas: growth – as measured by the amount of academic progress students made during the school year; and performance – as measured by the percentage of students who scored proficient (levels 3, 4 and 5) or on the path to be College Ready (levels 4 and 5).

Using End-of-Grade (EOG) and End-of-Course (EOC) test scores, school accountability is designated as having exceeded growth, met growth, or not met growth.

Overall, 63.6 percent of CHCCS elementary schools met or exceeded academic growth goals compared with 77.7 percent of those throughout the state; 75 percent of CHCCS middle schools met or exceeded academic growth goals compared with 69 percent throughout the state; and 100 percent of CHCCS high schools met or exceeded academic growth goals compared with 68.4 percent of those throughout the state. STATE CHCCS

Performance Indicators include End-of-Grade and End-of-Course test scores, and a variety of high school measures. They include the ACT, ACT WorkKeys and students passing Math 3. Historically, scores were reported as percent proficient. Starting in 2012-13, the State raised the standards, so schools are held accountable for preparing students to be College Ready by graduation. Both scores are reported below. It is worth noting that the number of CHCCS students scoring at or above the UNC minimum for admissions was the highest in North Carolina.

Annual Measurable Objectives (AMOs) are progress targets for student groups. These groups include: School as a Whole, African American, Asian, Latino, Two or More Races, Native American, White, Economically Disadvantaged, Limited English Proficient, Students with Disabilities, and Academically or Intellectually Gifted. Performance and participation is reported for each identified group. Schools must have at least a 95% participation rate in the statewide assessments. Each group must meet or exceed the state’s percent on College Ready targets. Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools met 87.2 percent of their goals while the State met 55.2 percent.

For more information about North Carolina’s testing program, click here to visit the state’s testing site or contact the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s Communication division, 919-807-3450. For information specific to Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, please contact Dr. Diane Villwock, Executive Director of Testing and Program Evaluation, at 919-967-8211.